Strengthening Africa-Asia Corridors: ARFC Member Highlights from the Asian Financial Forum 2026

The 19th Asian Financial Forum (AFF) in Hong Kong marked a strategic milestone for the Africa Roundtable of Financial Centres (ARFC) as it advanced efforts to strengthen Africa’s positioning within an evolving global financial landscape. Convening over 4,000 global leaders from more than 60 countries, the forum brought together policymakers, regulators, and industry stakeholders through a structured programme spanning plenary sessions, thematic dialogues, deal-making platforms, and the Global Business Summit. Within this context, ARFC’s participation was both timely and deliberate anchored in its mandate to connect African financial centres to global capital and strategic partnerships.

This engagement formed part of a broader continental agenda—positioning Africa’s leading financial hubs not merely as emerging markets, but as increasingly sophisticated, stable, and investable components of the global financial system. As global capital continues to respond to shifting geopolitical and economic dynamics, ARFC’s presence in Hong Kong was guided by a clear objective: to ensure that when Asian capital looks towards Africa, it encounters a unified, well-regulated, and investment-ready financial ecosystem.

The delegation’s high-level engagements included closed-door sessions with leading regulatory and financial institutions, where discussions focused on regulatory dialogue, knowledge exchange, and identifying pathways for closer alignment in areas that support cross-border investment. These interactions reflect ARFC’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the institutional relationships and confidence required to facilitate increased participation of international capital in African markets. Aligning with global best practices remains central to enhancing the competitiveness and global relevance of its member centres, including Lagos, Casablanca, Mauritius, and Kigali.

ARFC’s strategic positioning was further reinforced through participation in key stakeholder engagements across the forum, where conversations increasingly centered on moving from narratives of “potential” towards frameworks of integration. Discussions highlighted the importance of financial innovation, digital transformation, and sustainable finance as critical enablers of long-term growth. Within this context, Africa’s progress in fintech and emerging market development was positioned as a compelling entry point for global investors seeking diversified, high-growth opportunities.

The forum also provided an opportunity for ARFC to articulate its strategic priorities and present a unified value proposition to international stakeholders. Through targeted engagements and stakeholder interactions, ARFC reinforced its role as a convening platform for Africa’s financial centres and a critical interface between the continent and global financial markets. These efforts contribute to strengthening visibility, building investor confidence, and advancing Africa’s participation in global financial dialogue.

Participation in the Asian Financial Forum 2026 underscores ARFC’s continued commitment to fostering meaningful international partnerships and facilitating investment flows into African economies. By leveraging global platforms such as AFF, ARFC remains focused on advancing collaboration, strengthening market frameworks, and positioning its member centres at the forefront of an increasingly interconnected and resilient global financial system.

Complementing the forum discussions, the official post-event report provides a comprehensive perspective on the evolving Africa–Asia corridor, with insights spanning global capital dynamics, the growing role of African financial centres as hubs of mobilisation and innovation, and the importance of international connectivity in unlocking sustainable growth. It also highlights emerging opportunities across key markets, alongside country perspectives from leading financial centres including Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, and Rwanda.

Click here to access the full report to explore these insights and opportunities in greater detail.